Foundation garment



Jan. 17, 1939. J. WERNER FOUNDATION GARMENT I Filed June 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l M INVENTOR m 1 TroRNEYs Jam. 17, 1939. J, WERNER 2,144,092

FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed June 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 iii 11?; I'U if; :5; 117-; I".

2 INVENTOR I L i 2T TOR: EYS

Patented Jan. 17, 1939 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

I'he invention relates to improvements in foundation garments and more especially to novel and useful means for maintaining such garments in proper position on the body and preventing undesirable movements thereof.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part hereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be learned by practice with the invention, the same being realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevation of the interior of a corset, opened to its full extent, embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional detail on line tit-t oi Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective of the trunk of a female human body with a corset embodying the invention shown in position thereon by broken lines;

Fig. 4 is a'rear elevation of a girdle embodying a modified form of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a detailed section on line 5-5 of Fig. i.

'li'he invention is directed to providing novel and useful means for holding a corset, girdle or similar foundation garment in the proper and desired position on the body and to immobilize same so that it will not move relatively to the body an undesirable and uncomfortable manner, but will cling to and support the body as intended at all times and in all positions. By my invention I provide for immobilization of the garment as described with means which are simple and inconspicuous and which also enhance the comfort and supporting effect of the garment.

In girdles, corsets and foundation garments now commonly in use, there is a general tendency for the garment to move out of place and ride up on the hips of the wearer due to bodily movements such as bending, reaching or sitting down. Such displacements of the garment are not only uncomfortable and irksome but also cause tearing and undue wear and strain on other garments worn by the person. For example, foundation garments usually have garters attached for supporting hosiery and the riding-up of the girdle or other foundation garment Ire quently tears the hose or starts a run at the points where the garters are attached. Also the ridingup of the girdle required that same be restored to its proper position, especially after the wearer rises from a sitting or bending position. Thus many women display the characteristic gesture of pulling their girdles down upon rising. This act or gesture is not only ungraceful and embarrassing, but it also is harmful to the clothing, soiling and wrinkling the outer garments and sometimes tearing or stretching the undergarments.

The principal objects of the invention are to overcome the above-enumerated disadvantages of foundation garments in a simple, comfortable and effective manner and concomitantly provide means therefor which actually contribute to the comfort, appearance and body-supporting and retaining effects of the garment.

Broadly described, the invention comprises means or devices fixed to the interior of a founda tion garment which contact with and attach to a selected portion of the surface of the body whereby the garment itself is immobilized with respect to the body so that all bodily movements are performed easily and without disturbing the garment from its normal and proper position. The attachment of said devices to the body is frictional, preferably accompanied by a moderate amount of suction against the skin. Accordingly said devices are so shaped and positioned with relation to the garment and the body as to cooperate mechanically with certain natural olepressions of the body, thereby to increase their gripping and suction effects. Preferably said body-gripping devices are cup-shaped members of compressible, soft, light and highly frictional rubber or equivalent material and said devices are placed on the garment so as to rest over and'be compressed about and into the natural depressions or dimples found on either side of the sacrum in the small-of-the-back or sacro-iliac region. Thus the shape and position of said devices are such that they cooperate functionally with said natural depressions, facilitating the gripping, suction and immobilizing actions and also being pressed and fitting into spots where they become entirely inconspicuous and comfortable.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description as well are exemplary and explanatory of the invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates a corset or foundation garment of common type comprising a front or abdominal panel l of webbing or other suitable material, bound at the edges 2 and sides 3 by suitable binding tape. The terminal side edge 4 is provided with suitable eyelets or other means for lacing. The corset comprises side panels 5 and 6 of. any suitable shape and material and a rear panel I. Said rear panel is preferably pro-= vided with two or more vertical stiifening bones or stays it, extending along either side of the central part of the rear panel so as to lie along either side of the spine when the garment is in position. Said stays iii are commonly formed of steel strips which are encased in a fabric sheath ii and sewn or otherwise suitably fixed to the inner surface of the rear panel. Garter supporting straps l2 and i3 depend from the front panel of the corset and similar rear garter straps i8 depend from the rear panel I.

It will be understood that the foregoing de-' scription is of a conventional type of corset disclosed for purposes of illustration and explanation but that the invention is not limited to use with any particular type or construction of corset or other foundation garment.

Referring now to the embodied means for attaching the corset to the body and immobilizing same as described above, the invention provides a gripping pad or pads 20, preferably two in number, which are fixed to the interior of the corset and adapted to contact with and grip against the body surface when the garment is positioned and fastened about the body. As shown said pads 20 are preferably mounted on the rear panel I of the corset in position to lie against and cooperate with the natural depressions in the human back on either side of the sacrum. In Fig. 3 the corset is shown in position on a body, the pads 20 being positioned to lie against the back at said natural depressions A. When the corset is provided with bones or stays III, the pads are preferably mounted thereon so that the compressive action of the stays will force and hold the pads into and against the depressions A.

Referring now tothe detailed construction of a gripping pad 20, same is preferably formed as a concave oval pad of rubber of suitable length and width. In practice it has been found that an oval pad having a vertical length of. about 3 inches and a width of about 1 inches is of suitable size and shape to cooperate as required with said natural depressions in the majority of backs, but it is understood that the invention is not limited to any particular dimensions. The

- concavity of the pad is preferably formed as a succession of three steps, from an outer, relatively thick oval 2|, an intermediate oval 22 of lesser height and an inner shallow oval 23. The maximum thickness of the pad at the oval 2! is preferably approximately inch, while the oval 22 may be A; inch and the oval 23, inch.

The bulk of the pad 20 is preferably composed of very soft and porous rubber, such as sponge rubber, which will make the pad very soft, lightweight and highly compressible. The exterior surface of the pad is preferably covered with a thin coating 25 of rubber which is impervious to moisture, but relatively soft and flexible. Said surface also has a pronounced frictional gripping effect against the skin. Consequently the entire composition of the pad provides a soft, compressible cushion-like anchoring device which,

under compression, tends to flatten out into a very thin and slightly concave pad against the body. In practice it has been found that a pad constructed as above will compress to about onethird or less of its normal thickness at the outer oval 2!, the compressive eflect of the stays l0 tending to flatten the pad as the garment is tightened.

The rear faces of the pads 20 may be fixed to the rear panel of the corset by any suitable means. As shown in Fig. 2 the rear face 26 of the pad is cemented to the sheath ii of the stay, and the back 26 of the pad may be corrugated or otherwise roughened if necessary to.

strengthen the adhesion of the cement. In accordance with one feature of the invention it is desirable to have the pads 20 attachable to and detachable from the garment. While cementing, as disclosed, will permit this to be done after a fashion, in certain cases it may be desirable to provide a more convenient form of attachment. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the invention is illustrated in combination with a foundaton garment lot of the elastic girdle type. In that form the pads 206 are attached to the rear panel of the girdle by snap fastenings. As shown, the snap prongs mare fixed on the interior face of the rear panel of the girdle me, while conforming receptacles 2 are moulded into the rear face of the pad 200. Thus the pad may be readily removed from and reattached to the girdle as desired, or a new pad may be substituted.

It will be understood that when the garment is placed about the body the pads 20 are positioned so as to lie opposite the natural depressions A in the small of the back. Compression of the garment will cause the pads to flatten out and cup over and around said depressions, thereby forming a close and snug gripping contact with that portion of the body. The compression of the pad will also tend to form a slight suction or vacuum effect against the body and the counter concavity of the depression A will cooperate increating said vacuum and will also provide a natural anchorage for the pads.

It has been found in practice that the cooperation of the pads 20 with the natural depressions A is most efficient and comfortable. In fact the pads provide an additional supporting effect in the sacro-iliac region, giving a light and comfortable supporting effect to the small of the back and assisting in preserving the posture. That is, the pads fit into the depression which are normally bridged over by the stays, so that the supporting effect thereof is enlarged and made more comfortable. It will also be clear that the positioning of the pads at the points shown is also completely inconspicuous because the pads fit into the depressions and thus do not create any unsightly bulges or projections above the normal surface of the foundation garment.

It has been found in practice that the pads 26 as shown and described are very effective, and comfortable as well, in anchoring the foundation garment to the body so as to prevent undesired movements and displacements. The corset or girdle clings to the body and stays in position regardless of whatever bending or stretching or other movements may be made. By positioning the gripping pads in the sacro-iliac region, they not only cooperate with the natural depressions A to immobilize the garment, but their gripping and anchoring action is further made possible by the fact that said region of the back undergoes relatively little movement during any bending, twisting or other normal or abnormal bodily movements. Hence, the corset is anchored to the most stationary part of the body so that the anchoring means can therefore be relatively small, light and comfortable.

As hereinbefore described, the-pads 20 and 20B are formed as integral units which may be separately sold and attached to existing garments, as by cementing, or any other suitable attachment. Preferably also the pads are removable after a certain amount of use, as disclosed in the form 260, whereby same may be cleansed and reattached to the garment. The thin impervious coating 25 on the pads prevents absorption of perspiration and also permits washing or other cleaning of the pads. By providing the concavity of the pad in the form of a plurality of stepped recesses the attachment to the flesh is made less sudden and more comfortable and existence of at least a small amount of air space ensured between the pad when compressed and the body.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific mechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from the principles of the invention and without sacrificing its chief advantages.

What I claim is:

1. An improved corset or girdle including in combination a garment for surrounding and compressing the hips and abdomen of the wearer, said garment covering the natural depressions on either side of the spine in the sacro-iliac region when the garment is in position on the wearer, and means for anchoring said garment in position on the body comprising a pair of compressible pads having frictional surfaces, said pads being mounted on that portion of the garment which covers said depressions whereby said pads contact the body at the depressions and cooperate therewith to immobilize the garment on the body.

2. An improved corset or girdle including in combination a garment for surrounding and compressing the hips and abdomen of the wearer, said garment covering the natural depressions on either side of the spine in the sacro-iliac region when the garment is in position on the wearer, and means for anchoring said garment in posi tion on the body comprising a pair of compressible pads having frictional surfaces, said pads being removably mounted on that portion of the garment which covers said depressions whereby said pads contact the body at the depressions and cooperate therewith to immobilize the garment on the body.

3. An improved corset or girdle including in combination a garment for surrounding and compressing the hips and abdomen of the wearer, said garment covering the natural depressions on either side of the spine in the sacro-iliac region when the garment is in position on the wearer, and means for anchoring said garment in position on the body comprising a pair of concave, compressible pads having frictional surfaces and a suction-gripping action, said pads being mounted on that portion of the garment which covers said depressions whereby said pads contact the body at the depressions and cooperate therewith to immobilize the garment on the body.

JULES WERNER. 

